Norwich Street Pedestrian Bridge: Notice of study completion

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, Schedule B

Environmental Study

The Study

The City of Guelph has completed a Class Environmental Assessment study (EA) for evaluating alternatives to address the deteriorating condition of the Norwich Street pedestrian bridge. The bridge sits over the Speed River on the former Norwich Street between Cardigan Street and Arthur Street North. The approximate extent of the study area is shown on the map.

The Process

Area of construction on the Norwich Street Bridge

The EA was conducted as a Schedule B Project in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, an approved process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. As part of the study, public information centres—or open houses—were held in September 2016 and May 2017. These public sessions presented background information on the study to the community, and the alternatives under consideration, respectively. The EA process also included stakeholder consultation, an evaluation of alternatives, an assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed alternatives, and identification of measures to mitigate any adverse impacts. Various studies were completed to assess potential environmental, social, cultural and economic effects of the alternatives.

The EA studies and consultation identified a preferred alternative for the Norwich Street Pedestrian Bridge, and the EA recommendation is to preserve the existing trusses of the bridge as a primarily aesthetic feature and install a self-supporting structure that carries its own weight to provide safe crossing over the Speed River. The new structure would be designed to better accommodate drainage, salting and sanding of the deck and pedestrian barriers.

Project file report

A project file report has been prepared to document the planning process followed, including conclusions and recommendations, and how public input was received and considered. The project file will be available online at guelph.ca for public review for a period of 30 calendar days starting September 21, 2017 and ending October 23, 2017. Hard copies will be available for viewing over the same period at the following locations during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.:

Interested parties should provide written comments within the 30-day review period.

Public concerns regarding this project that cannot be resolved in discussion with the City of Guelph, may be directed to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) by requesting a Part II Order. Requests must be sent to the Minister at the address below and copied to the City’s Project Manager on, or before, October 23, 2017.